Samuel Umtiti
Umtiti is expected to leave Lyon during the coming summer transfer window Getty Images

Lyon manager Bruno Genesio insists the club will not be forced to sell Samuel Umtiti to Barcelona this summer.

Barcelona have not signed a specialist centre-half since the disastrous signing of Dmytro Chyrynskiy in 2009 but would finally appear keen to find a long-term solution to long-standing problem in defence.

22-year-old Umtiti has emerged as the club's top target ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's Marquinhos, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Barcelona have already reached an agreement in principle with Lyon to sign the player.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas denied such reports, but indicated the cente-half will decide his future.

But manager Genesio insists the club won't be under any pressure to cash in and remains hopeful of retaining all his key players ahead of the 2016-17 season.

"Samuel Umtiti is at the Euros and is still an Olympique Lyon player," the Lyon boss said via the club's official Twitter account. "The club has no need to sell players. My wish is to keep the majority of the players."

Umtiti, who was called into the France squad for Euro 2016 to replace the injured Raphael Varane, did little to dampen speculation while interviewed in the French camp, saying: "Barça are a great club and many players would like to play there. I am handling the rumours well, I am happy to be here [at Euro2016] and I am taking advantage of every moment. My future is being dealt with by my agents. I am not too distracted by that right now, I am focused on this competition."

Barcelona are also reportedly keen on bringing Sevilla forward Kevin Gameiro to the Nou Camp with the club looking likely to miss out on Nolito, who is close to joining Manchester City. The La Liga champions have also agreed to resign Denis Suarez from Villarreal.